The Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the Special Forces killed 50 Boko Haram insurgents on Saturday.

He said the insurgents were gunned down by 10pm on Saturday while they were trooping out of the forest to carry out planned attacks on communities in Borno and Adamawa states.

Olukolade said in a statement on Monday that the insurgents were ambushed by troops along Bilta following intelligence report on the impending attacks on the communities.

The Defence spokesman said four soldiers, who received gunshot wounds in the encounter, were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

He stated that the troops also recovered “30 rifles, 36 hand grenades, seven  machine guns, 11 rocket propelled grenade tubes, 3,500 rounds of ammunition, six smoke grenade canisters and locally fabricated guns as well as four vehicles to be used by the terrorists for the planned attack.”

He added, “Troops conducting anti-terrorists campaign in North-Eastern Nigeria have successfully averted attempted massive raid on villages in Borno and Adamawa states during the weekend. 

“The terrorists, who were on their way to attack selected communities, were ambushed by troops along  Bilta, Borno State on receiving intelligence report of the terrorists’ intention.

“The attack was launched on the terrorists as they filed out of the forest to embark on their mission at about 10pm on Saturday.